Kings win Game 2 of Stanley Cup Final in double OT

The Kings' celebrate Jarret Stoll's second period goal on Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist during Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

They’re a rare species of skating, shooting cockroaches, these Kings. One of their players came up with the name, and it fits. Smack them, spray them, try to crush them against the wall, and they slither away.

Besides, no humans have ever done what this team has accomplished. Three times in seven days, the Kings trailed by two goals in a playoff game and rallied to win. They pulled the trick on the New York Rangers on Saturday and won, 5-4, in double overtime in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final.

Dustin Brown tipped in a point shot by Willie Mitchell, in the 91st minute of play, and the Kings celebrated on weary legs in front of a roaring, relieved, standing-room-only crowd of 18,532 at Staples Center.

“It baffles everyone in here,” Mitchell said of the Kings’ ability to rally. “It’s not a place we want to be in to have to climb out of all the time. Sooner or later it’s going to bite you in the (butt).”

Not yet, and consider this: the Kings played 220 minutes, 49 seconds, of hockey in a one-week span, and didn’t lead any of it. They overcame a first-period, 2-0 deficit to beat Chicago in Game 7 of the Western Conference Final, then did the same thing to the Rangers, twice, to take a 2-0 lead in this best-of-7 series.

The Kings played the second-longest game in franchise history and became the first team in NHL history to win three consecutive playoff games in which they faced a multi-goal deficit.

“That’s an interesting stat,” winger Justin Williams, who had three assists, said with a weary grin. “I think I’m pretty much just going to regurgitate what we said after last game. It’s a terrible start. Able to come back and get a big win in overtime. Games could have gone either way, but we found a way.”

The Kings saved their best magic for Saturday. Beset, again, by early-game turnovers and difficulty managing the Rangers’ speed and gritty forechecking, the Kings trailed 2-0 at the end of the first period.

They made it 2-1, then trailed 3-1, then made it 3-2, then gave up what seemed to be a backbreaking goal, 11 seconds later, by Mats Zuccarello that gave the Rangers a 4-2 lead after two periods.

The game turned on a controversial play 1:58 into the third period, when Dwight King tipped in a point shot by Matt Greene. The Rangers, particularly goalie Henrik Lundqvist, were furious in their belief that King, while tied up with Rangers defenseman Ryan McDonagh, had interfered with Lundqvist.

“I'm extremely disappointed on that call or non-call,” Lundqvist said. “They got to be consistent with that rule.”

Less than six minutes later, the Kings tied it 4-4 on Marian Gaborik’s goal, and that’s where it stayed for the next 42:50, despite some breathless moments and huge stops by Lundqvist (39 saves) and Jonathan Quick (34).

After three penalties in the first, scoreless overtime period, the game settled down in the second session and ended, as such things usually do, with a harmless looking play. Mitchell, who scored on a point shot in the second period, wound up again and Brown, tied up in the slot, deflected it past Lundqvist.

“Usually it’s not a very pretty goal,” center Anze Kopitar said. “That’s what happened. I know it’s a cliche, but every shot is a good shot in overtime, and it turned out to be that way.”

The Kings were in familiar territory, having reached overtime for the fourth time in their last five games. Since the start of the second-round series against the Ducks, the Kings are 4-1 in overtime games.

“I don’t know what it is,” Kings defenseman Jake Muzzin said. “It’s hard to explain but we’ve got a calm belief in here that we can win every game no matter what the score is and no matter what the situation is.”

This is the strangest of series, for any number of reasons. The Rangers face a 2-0 deficit even though, except for the third periods of Games 1 and 2 and parts of the overtimes, they’ve played quite well.

Still, center Brian Boyle wanted nothing of the suggestion that the Rangers, who entered the series as fairly heavy betting underdogs, could feel positive going home for Game 3 on Monday.

“I don’t give a (expletive) about underdogs,” Boyle said. “That’s ridiculous. Give me a break. We’re not. We’re here, too. We’re a good team. And we can’t take any solace, because we lost. We came here to win games. It doesn’t matter how the hell we do it, we have to win the game.”

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The Kings' celebrate Jarret Stoll's second period goal on Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist during Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
New York Rangers right wing Mats Zuccarello (36) celebrates his goal with New York Rangers left wing Benoit Pouliot (67) as Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Matt Greene (2) skates past in the first period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles Kings' center Tyler Toffoli (73) tries to keep the puck alive behind the net in the first period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Kyle Clifford gets his stick tangled up with the Rangers' Anton Stralman during the first period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Dustin Brown is checked by the Rangers' Kevin Klein during the first period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Anze Kopitar tries to score on Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist during the second period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Kings' goaltender Jonathan Quick can't stop this shot by the Rangers' Martin St. Louis during the second period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) harasses Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Jake Muzzin (6) in the first period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Dustin Brown is knocked down by the Rangers' Martin St. Louis during the second period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles Kings' defenseman Matt Greene (2) and New York Rangers center Derick Brassard (16) mix it up near the Kings net in the first period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist makes a glove save in front of teammate Ryan McDonagh and the Kings' Jeff Carter during the first period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The New York Rangers celebrate the second goal in the first period in front of Los Angeles Kings' goalie Jonathan Quick (32) of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Rangers' Martin St. Louis can only watch as goaltender Henrik Lundqvist dives for this shot by the Kings' Jarret Stoll during the second period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Dwight King gets tangled up with the Rangers' Ryan McDonagh and goaltender Henrik Lundqvist during his third period goal during Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Marian Gaborik celebrates his game-tying third period goal on Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist during Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Tanner Pearson is held down by the Rangers' Carl Hagelin during the third period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Jeff Carter has words with the Rangers' Brian Boyle during the third period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist makes a save on the Kings' Tyler Toffoli during the third period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles Kings' center Jeff Carter (77) celebrates his goal in the second period in front of New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Rangers' goaltender Henrik Lundqvist gets to his feat after the Kings' Dwight King scored during the third period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
New York Rangers left wing Chris Kreider (20) dumps a load of ice on Los Angeles Kings' goalie Jonathan Quick (32)in the second period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Jarret Stoll lands on his back in front of goaltender Jonathan Quick during the first overtime period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
New York Rangers left wing Benoit Pouliot (67) was called for goalie interference on Los Angeles Kings' goalie Jonathan Quick (32) after knocking him down in the second period of Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Kings' Justin Williams is called for interference on the Rangers' Rick Nash during the first overtime period of Game 2 of the 2014 NHL Stanley Cup Final at Staples Center Saturday. KEVIN SULLIVAN, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles Kings' left wing Dwight King (74) gets away with interference on New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) and a goal scores for the Kings in the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles Kings' center Anze Kopitar (11) celebrates Los Angeles Kings' right wing Marian Gaborik's (12) goal in the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
The Los Angeles Kings celebrate Los Angeles Kings' right wing Marian Gaborik's (12) game tying score in the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) complained of interference from Los Angeles Kings' left wing Dwight King (74) in a scoring play in the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles Kings' goalie Jonathan Quick (32) denies New York Rangers center Brad Richards (19) in the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles Kings' center Trevor Lewis (22) goes to the ice behind the New York Rangers net in the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. New York Rangers defenseman John Moore (17) is defending on the play. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
Los Angeles Kings' right wing Dustin Brown (23) gets tripped up in the third period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) goes to the ice and Los Angeles Kings' center Jeff Carter (77) is called for goalie interference in the first overtime period during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER
New York Rangers goalie Henrik Lundqvist (30) gets the goalie interference call in the first overtime period is checked by a trainer during Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final Saturday, June 7, 2014, in Los Angeles. MICHAEL GOULDING, STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

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